Mercer Overwhelms Baptist In 122-49 Win

Sunday, December 28

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

8-5,0-0SoCon

122

Baptist

0-5

Baptist U. (FL)

Mercer

122

12/28/2025 5:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

All 14 Mercer players who saw game action scored

MACON, Ga. – Zaire Williams led Mercer with 19 points and all 14 Mercer players who saw game action scored as the Bears rolled to a dominant 122-49 win over Baptist University of Florida Sunday afternoon from Hawkins Arena in Macon, Georgia.

Mercer's 122 points scored were the second most points scored in program history. Defensively Mercer allowed just 49 points which was the fewest points allowed all season.

Mercer shot 46-for-94 (48.9%) from the field compared to Baptist who went 16-of-78 (20.5%). Mercer didn't allow Baptist to make a single three-pointer all game, as the Eagles were 0-for-24 from deep on the day.

Mercer had a season high 30 assists on its 46 made field goals. Baraka Okojie who entered the game leading the SoCon in assists, had a game high nine assists. Okojie also added 14 points to go with six rebounds. Williams led all scorers with 19 points to go with seven rebounds. Freshman Jaydon Cole came of the bench and in 13 minutes scored a career high 13 points with five rebounds.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Mercer 122, Baptist 49
RECORDS: Mercer (8-5, 0-0 SoCon), Baptist (3-13, 0-2 NCCAA)
LOCATION: Macon, GA (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
After Baptist scored the first two points of the game, Mercer went on a 14-2 run sparked by a three-pointer from Okojie to get the run going. A fastbreak layup from Kyle Cuffe Jr. gave the Bears a 28-7 lead.

With just over six minutes to play in the first half, Quinton Perkins II stole the ball and raced the other way for a fastbreak layup to put Mercer ahead 40-13. Back-to-back steals from the Bears led to fastbreak layups for Williams and Shoulders to cap a 28-2 run for the Bears who then led 56-15. With 15 seconds to go in the half, Cuffe got Mercer's 10th steal of the first half which led to a layup for Okojie and Mercer took a 62-18 lead into halftime.

2ND HALF
Mercer kept the foot on the gas to start the second half as the Bears started the half on an 18-4 run in just over a three minute time span to extend its lead to 80-22. Mercer made four three-pointers during the run.

Bendji Pierre made his first three-pointer of the game to give Mercer a 90-26 lead. Cole pulled up off the dribble from the top of the elbow and knocked down a jumper to make it 101-33, Mercer. In the final few minutes of the game, Alex Koch drove baseline and rose for a thunderous dunk over a Baptist defender to put an exclamation on a convincing win for the Bears.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer's 122 points scored were the second most points scored in a game in program history.
+ Defensively, Mercer held Baptist to just 49 points, a season low for the Eagles and the fewest points allowed all season by the Bears.
+ The Bears held Baptist without a made three-pointer as the Eagles went 0-for-24 from deep.
+ All 14 Mercer players who saw playing time scored.
+ Zaire Williams led Mercer with 19 points, tied for his second most points scored in a game this season.
+ Mercer had a season high 17 steals with 10 of them coming in the first half.
+ Baraka Okojie had nine assists, his third most in a game this season.
+ Jaydon Cole scored a career high 13 points to go with a career high five rebounds.
+ Brady Shoulders led the Bears with 12 rebounds, his second most in a game this season (14 vs Lipscomb)
+ Mercer finishes non-conference play with a perfect 6-0 record at home.

UP NEXT
Mercer opens conference play on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Furman. Tip off is set for 12 p.m. inside Timmons Arena.

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